MAFF as a Key Transcriptional Regulator of Ferroptosis via Iron Homeostasis and Fatty Acid Synthesis

In this study, we identify the transcription factor v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog F (MAFF) as a key regulator that promotes breast cancer progression while simultaneously sensitizing tumor cells to ferroptosis. Integrated RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing revealed that MAFF directly regulates genes involved in iron and fatty acid metabolism.

MAFF enhances intracellular iron availability by transactivating SLC11A2 and NCOA4, expanding the labile iron pool essential for ferroptotic signaling. In parallel, MAFF represses CPT2, FASN, and SCD1, reprogramming lipid metabolism to favor the accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) over monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), thereby increasing lipid peroxidation susceptibility. T